THE BRIDE SHE LEFT BEHIND

t, I coul

n the dark, thinking

ve died ins

at Cal

k just

ng to feel l

ring my sis

f Langford Hall. The lights were d

the door we

's old

leb locked it and

to enter. Said it

ght, I need

are key in the

haking as I unl

lled l

And something

Her books. Her favorite red sweater

the fir

pens to me check

art s

around, The floorboards were ol

t open wi

s a small

ened

os letters and a

ok through it, I heard f

quickly and slid

up, Ash was stan

hing

posed to be in

calm, But his

remember your m

at me for a

but it wasn't a

. Too old f

ere, you know

I a

ted hi

m

rned and w

black box felt heavy in my pocket, like it was made of

stil

the wishful thinking of a grie

d been disturbed. As I straightened the room, my eyes fell on a photograph I hadn't

ze. She was tall blonde, elegant. Her hand rested on Caleb's shoulder, and she stood too close to him for casual acquai

n's flowing script The three of us, Meridian

Just months b

x and shut the door behind me, locking it carefully. The hallw

was supposed to share with Caleb I sat on the edge of the bed an

A forest clearing with wildflowers. In one, Evelyn stood beside a tall oak tree, h

ssed to someone called

t suspect

the usual p

ing this, We ne

dated just a wee

t everything, We need to t

he USB drive. It was small, unmarked. I

cked in his study. I'd n

ade me jump. I quickly hi

, trying to keep

ll frame silhouetted against the hallway light.

t on, he said.

head. Jus

m, leaving the door ope

atching his face carefu

re stiffened slightly. "The fire was an acc

y just tell you what

en us like smoke. Ca

said softly. Some qu

ed me?I challenged. It wa

bed. So close I could smell his cologne sa

ed. It wasn't

s intertwining with my own. His

er, he whispered. It hurts

Evelyn

g a strand of hair from my fac

his phone rang. He check

his, he said, st

e door, I called a

t didn't turn around

d. There was a photo

his eyes burned with something I couldn't read. Stay out

oom and down the hall toward his study. If he was on a call,

ht spilling into the hallway

, his voice low and urgent. "I don't

pa

an't do that

her

rom Evelyn. Smart

cked away slowly, caref

, I found myself staring into Ash's solemn face. He put a finger

or and turned to me with eyes

he whispered. Not just und

asked. What else d

box decorated with superhero stickers. From i

. The one in her room i

with shaking h

said. Told me to keep it safe until you came.

ge and read the inscription writte

s, then I was right. He kill